May 30, 2014

05:15 AM

The first time Daniel GreenWolf walked into a Renaissance Fair he fell under its spell. At the time he was 10 years old and was enthralled by the immersive world of make- believe, where actors and actresses garbed in capes, cloaks, and tunics, interacted with him as they jousted and talked of quests.

“I was part of this world, and it inspired me and inspired my imagination,” says GreenWolf, of Waterbury.

When he grew up he began casting some spells of his own by becoming a professional magician and performing at Renaissance Fairs across the country (he’s billed as Daniel GreenWolf Celtic Magician). Four years ago he was recruited as the General Manager of the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire, which will take visitors on a once-upon-a-time journey on weekends from June 21 to July 6 at Warsaw Park in Ansonia.

During the event the park will be transformed into a fantasy vision of the past. GreenWolf will perform along with 19 other professional acts ranging from jugglers to musicians to fire dancers, sword swallowers and comedians. There will also be 50 artisans selling a variety of wares (including swords and armor), and multiple food vendors offering modern and Renaissance grub. In addition there will be actors and actresses in character interacting with attendees and performing a scripted drama throughout the day.

“A Renaissance Fair is a completely interactive world experience,” says GreenWolf. “Basically you step into another place. You become a part of this land-sized play that takes place as characters interact with you. All of these characters that you’ll see, are all parts of that script in some little minute way, even if it’s somebody who’s just collecting trash, they’re a part of this world.”

He adds, “You can choose how much you’re a part of it. You can just be a spectator who watches casually, or you can be someone who dresses up and really gets involved and interacts with the characters. It’s all at your own level.”

Unlike some Renaissance Fairs, which stress strict adherence to a specific time period and avoid the magical and fantastic, the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire is not bound by hard and fast rules.

“Our world although it has the feeling of the Renaissance also has dwarves and elves, and animal kin, and fairies,” explains GreenWolf. “For the last four years I’ve been able to create a world that I am deeply proud of and really happy to be a part of.”

He adds that he hopes to create the same sense of wonder he felt as a kid visiting his first Renaissance Fair, “Our whole goal is to inspire imagination.”

The Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire takes place June 21-22, June 28-29 and July 5-6, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with Saturday night shows from 7 to 9 p.m., at Warsaw Park in Ansonia. Tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for young adults and $6 for children. mfrenfaire.com.